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Members Of Cigarette Trafficking Conspiracy Indicted

Defendants Allegedly Acquired More Than $33 Million In Contraband Cigarettes

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA -- A Federal Grand Jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg has indicted dozens of individuals for conspiring to traffic in contraband cigarettes, money laundering and a variety of related charges.

The defendants were charged by the grand jury in four separate indictments returned under seal on February 17, 2011, August 3, 2011 and October 6, 2011. Those indictments were unsealed earlier this week following the arrest and initial court appearances by the defendants.

The charges are the result of a three-year investigation by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Virginia and the District of South Carolina, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department.

According to the indictments, the defendants acquired untaxed cigarettes in the Western District of Virginia and transported them for distribution in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York. Members of the conspiracy are accused of buying more than $33 million in contraband cigarettes from undercover federal agents during the life of the conspiracy.

Cheng Zeng, 27, of Hedgesville, W.Va., was charged with one count of conspiracy to sell contraband cigarette and launder money; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 22 counts of purchasing and receiving contraband cigarettes.

Mushtaq Ahmad, 34, Strasburg, Va., was charged with one count of conspiracy to sell contraband cigarettes and launder money; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and three counts of purchasing and receiving contraband cigarettes.

Joseph Emmanuel, 38, of Mauldin, S.C., was charged with conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes; conspiracy to commit money laundering; conspiracy to dispose of cigarettes and not pay federal tax; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit state tax stamps; trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes; sale or receipt of stolen goods; and money laundering charges.

Preston McCurley, 26, place of residence not available, was charged with conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes; conspiracy to commit money laundering; conspiracy to dispose of cigarettes and not pay federal tax; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit state tax stamps; trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes; sale or receipt of stolen goods; and money laundering charges.

Shilpaben Patel, 43, of Spartanburg, S.C., was charged with conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Boss Ramsey, 30, of Cowpens, S.C., was charged with conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Phil White, age and place of residence unavailable, was charged with conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes.

The investigation of the case was conducted by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeb Terrien and Ronald Huber of the Western District of Virginia and are prosecuting the case for the United States with substantial assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.